US20080149032A1 - Lift pin, apparatus for processing a substrate and method of processing a substrate - Google Patents
Lift pin, apparatus for processing a substrate and method of processing a substrate Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080149032A1 US20080149032A1 US11/764,482 US76448207A US2008149032A1 US 20080149032 A1 US20080149032 A1 US 20080149032A1 US 76448207 A US76448207 A US 76448207A US 2008149032 A1 US2008149032 A1 US 2008149032A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- substrate
- head portion
- chuck
- lift pin
- passage
- Prior art date
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- Abandoned
Links
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 105
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 32
- 239000012495 reaction gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 238000005229 chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000006227 byproduct Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005137 deposition process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000002513 implantation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001505 atmospheric-pressure chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000231 atomic layer deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004518 low pressure chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000623 plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition Methods 0.000 description 2
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000577 Silicon-germanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- LEVVHYCKPQWKOP-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Si].[Ge] Chemical compound [Si].[Ge] LEVVHYCKPQWKOP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009713 electroplating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052732 germanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N germanium atom Chemical compound [Ge] GNPVGFCGXDBREM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007943 implant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001459 lithography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001451 molecular beam epitaxy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009751 slip forming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004544 sputter deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/683—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping
- H01L21/687—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping using mechanical means, e.g. chucks, clamps or pinches
- H01L21/68714—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping using mechanical means, e.g. chucks, clamps or pinches the wafers being placed on a susceptor, stage or support
- H01L21/68742—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping using mechanical means, e.g. chucks, clamps or pinches the wafers being placed on a susceptor, stage or support characterised by a lifting arrangement, e.g. lift pins
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
- C23C16/44—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating
- C23C16/458—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating characterised by the method used for supporting substrates in the reaction chamber
- C23C16/4582—Rigid and flat substrates, e.g. plates or discs
- C23C16/4583—Rigid and flat substrates, e.g. plates or discs the substrate being supported substantially horizontally
- C23C16/4586—Elements in the interior of the support, e.g. electrodes, heating or cooling devices
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C16/00—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes
- C23C16/44—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating
- C23C16/50—Chemical coating by decomposition of gaseous compounds, without leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, i.e. chemical vapour deposition [CVD] processes characterised by the method of coating using electric discharges
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
- H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
- H01L21/683—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping
- H01L21/6831—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping using electrostatic chucks
Definitions
- Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a lift pin, an apparatus for processing a substrate and a method of processing a substrate. More particularly, example embodiments of the present invention relate to a lift pin for moving a substrate in a desired direction to place the substrate on a chuck, an apparatus including the lift pin for processing a substrate, and a method of processing the substrate using the apparatus.
- Semiconductor devices are usually manufactured through a series of processes such as a deposition process for forming a layer, a photo process, a lithography process, a diffusion process, etc.
- a deposition process for forming a layer on a substrate there have been developed various processes, for example, a sputtering process, an electroplating process, an evaporation process, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a molecular beam epitaxy process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, etc.
- the CVD process generally includes a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process, an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) process, a low temperature chemical vapor deposition (LTCVD) process, a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, etc.
- LPCVD low pressure chemical vapor deposition
- APCVD atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition
- LTCVD low temperature chemical vapor deposition
- PECVD plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition
- a conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus generally includes a chamber, an electrostatic chuck (ESC), a shower head and a lift pin.
- a substrate where a layer is formed is loaded in the chamber.
- the substrate is mounted on the ESC installed in the chamber.
- the shower head is positioned over the ESC so as to provide a reaction gas onto the substrate.
- the lift pin is inserted in a passage vertically formed through the ESC to move the substrate along an upward direction or a downward direction.
- the conventional CVD apparatus having a lift pin is disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-42965.
- the lift pin in the conventional CVD apparatus moves upwardly and downwardly in the passage formed through the ESC so that the lift pin has a diameter smaller than that of the passage.
- the lift pin of the conventional CVD apparatus has a constant diameter, a gap is generated between the lift pin and an inner face of the passage.
- the reaction gas for forming the layer flows into the passage through the gap while forming the layer on the substrate.
- reaction by-products flow into the passage through the gap between the lift pin and the passage.
- an undesired layer is formed on the inner face of the passage.
- the undesired layer formed on the passage may serve as particles that cause various failures of a semiconductor device.
- the undesired layer is continuously formed on the inner face of the passage such that the diameter of the passage is also continuously reduced, thereby preventing the lift pin from moving upwardly and downwardly.
- Example embodiments of the present invention provide a lift pin capable of preventing an inflow of a reaction gas toward a passage of a chuck.
- Example embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for processing a substrate, which includes a lift pin capable of preventing an inflow of a reaction gas toward a passage of a chuck.
- Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method of processing a substrate using the above apparatus including a lift pin capable of preventing an inflow of a reaction gas toward a passage of a chuck.
- a lift pin including a rod portion and a head portion.
- the rod portion may move in a passage formed through a chuck having an object processed using a reaction gas.
- the head portion may be provided on the rod portion to make contact with the object.
- the head portion may close the passage to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
- the head portion may have a lower portion making contact with an upper face of the passage of the chuck.
- a receiving groove may be provided on the chuck to receive the head portion.
- the head portion may have a side separated from an inner face of the receiving groove communicating with the passage.
- a receiving groove may be provided on the chuck to receive the head portion.
- the head portion may have a side making contact with an inner face of the receiving groove communicating with the passage.
- an upper portion of the head portion may be substantially smaller than a lower portion of the head portion.
- the head portion may have an arch-shaped cross-section, a semicircular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a trapezoid cross-section or a funneled cross-section.
- an apparatus for processing a substrate includes a chamber, a chuck, a shower head and a lift pin.
- the chamber may receive a substrate therein.
- the chuck may be disposed in the chamber to support the substrate.
- the chuck may have a passage formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate.
- the shower head may be disposed over the chuck to provide a reaction gas onto the substrate.
- the lift pin may be disposed in the passage to move the substrate along an upward direction and a downward direction.
- the lift pin may include a rod portion moving in the passage and a head portion formed on the rod portion to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
- an upper portion of the head portion of the lift pin may be substantially smaller than a lower portion of the head portion.
- the head portion may have an arch-shaped cross-section, a semicircular cross-section, a polygonal cross-section or a funneled cross-section.
- the chuck may have a receiving groove where the head portion is received.
- the receiving groove may have a depth substantially the same as or larger than a thickness of the head portion.
- the receiving groove may have an inner face making contact with a side face of the head portion.
- the receiving groove may have an inner face separated from a side face of the head portion.
- the chuck may include an electrostatic chuck, and the chamber comprises a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber.
- CVD chemical vapor deposition
- a substrate may be loaded into a chamber.
- the substrate may be mounted on a chuck using a lift pin moving in a passage formed through the chuck.
- the passage of the chuck may be closed by a head portion of the lift pin.
- the substrate may be processed using a reaction gas in the chamber. Reaction by-products generated in processing the substrate may be removed from the chamber.
- the reaction gas may move into the chamber, and then a plasma may be generated from the reaction gas to form a layer on the substrate.
- the substrate may be upwardly moved from the chuck using the lift pin, and then the substrate may be unloaded the substrate from the chamber.
- a lift pin includes a head portion capable of sufficiently closing a passage of a chuck where the lift pin moves upwardly and downwardly, so that the lift pin may effectively prevent reaction by-products and/or a reaction gas from flowing into a passage of a chuck.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating “II” portion in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
- spatially relative terms such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
- Example embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region.
- a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place.
- the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating “II” portion in FIG. 1 .
- a lift pin 100 includes a rod portion 110 and a head portion 120 .
- the lift pin 100 may be inserted into a chuck 200 on which an object (not illustrated) such as a substrate is placed.
- the rod portion 110 of the lift pin 100 may be inserted into a passage 216 provided through the chuck 210 .
- the passage 216 may be formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the chuck 210 so that the rod portion 110 may be disposed with respect to the chuck 210 .
- the rod portion 110 may move in the passage 216 along an upward direction and a downward direction.
- the rod portion 110 may have a width substantially smaller than that of the passage 216 .
- the rod portion 110 of the lift pin 100 may have a predetermined width.
- the rod portion 110 may have a cylindrical structure.
- the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 is provided at one end portion of the rod portion 110 .
- the head portion 120 may be integrally formed with the rod portion 110 .
- the head portion 120 may mount the object such as the substrate on the chuck 210 , or the head portion 120 may move the object from the chuck 210 along the upward direction or the downward direction. Since the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 makes contact with the object, the head portion 120 may have a desired upper portion to reduce a contact area between the lift pin 100 and the object. When the head portion 120 has a reduced upper area, defects of the object, for example, a stain or a spot of the object may be effectively prevented from being generated.
- the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 may have an arch structure or a hemispherical cross-section. Further, the head portion 120 may have a cross-section such as an arc shape or a semicircular shape. When the head portion 120 has the arch structure or the hemispherical structure, the head portion 120 may sufficiently close the passage 216 . Thus, the head portion may have a lower width substantially larger than an upper width of the passage 216 . In example embodiments, the head portion 120 may seal an upper portion of the passage 216 while forming a desired layer on the object such as the substrate. Therefore, the head portion 120 having the above-described structure may efficiently prevent a reaction gas capable of forming the desired layer from flowing into the passage 216 .
- a receiving groove 217 is provided at an upper portion of the chuck 210 .
- the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 may be inserted in the receiving groove 217 .
- the receiving groove 217 may communicate with the passage 216 . Since the object is mounted on the chuck 210 , the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 may not protrude from an upper face of the chuck 210 .
- the receiving groove 217 may have a depth substantially larger than a thickness of the head portion 120 .
- the depth of the receiving groove 217 may be substantially the same as the thickness of the head portion 120 .
- the receiving groove 217 may have a polygonal cross-section, for example, a rectangular cross-section.
- the head portion 120 may be spaced apart from a side face of the receiving groove 217 . That is, the receiving groove 217 may have a width substantially larger than a lower width of the head portion 120 .
- the chuck 210 provides a space 218 communicating with a lower portion of the passage 216 .
- a holder (not illustrated) is positioned in the space 218 to support a lower portion of the lift pin 100 .
- the holder may support a lower portion of the rod portion 110 .
- an undesired layer may be formed on inner faces of the passage 216 and the space 218 when the reaction gas flows into the space 218 through the passage 216 .
- the head portion 110 may close the upper portion of the passage 216 to effectively prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the space 218 . Therefore, the undesired layer may not be formed on the inner faces of the passage 216 and the space 218 because of sealing of the passage 216 by the head portion 110 .
- the head portion 110 of the lift pin 100 may close the passage 216 of the chuck 210 to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage 216 and the space 218 . Therefore, the undesired layer may not be formed on the inner faces of the passage 216 and the space 218 by preventing an inflow of the reaction gas into the space 218 through the passage 216 .
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin according to example embodiments of the present invention.
- a lift pin 100 a may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pin 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 except for a head portion 120 a.
- the head portion 120 a of the lift pin 100 a may have a trapezoid cross-section.
- This head portion 120 a may have a lower width to sufficiently cover an upper portion of a passage 216 of a chuck 210 .
- the head portion 120 a may have a lower portion substantially wider than an upper portion thereof.
- the lower width of the head portion 120 a may be substantially larger than an upper width of the head portion 120 a.
- the head portion 120 a is received in a receiving groove 217 of the chuck 210 .
- the head portion 210 a may move upwardly from the receiving groove 217 while loading an object on the lift pin 100 a .
- the head portion 120 a may make contact with a bottom of the receiving groove 217 while mounting the object on the chuck 210 .
- the receiving groove 217 may have a polygonal cross-section such as a rectangular cross-section.
- a side face of the head portion 120 a may be separated from an inner face of the receiving groove 217 by a predetermined distance.
- the head portion 120 a may have a lower width substantially smaller than a width of the receiving groove 217 .
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- a lift pin 100 b may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pin 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 except for a head portion 120 b.
- the lift pin 100 b includes the head portion 120 b having a polygonal cross-section such as a triangular cross-section.
- the head portion 120 b may have a lower width substantially larger than an upper width of a passage 216 of a chuck 210 to thereby sufficiently close the passage 216 while forming a desired layer on an object such as a substrate.
- the head portion 100 b is received in a receiving groove 217 of the chuck 210 .
- the head portion 100 b may make contact with a bottom of the receiving groove 217 and also may move from the receiving groove 217 .
- the receiving groove 217 may have a rectangular cross-section.
- An inner face of the receiving groove 217 may be spaced apart from a side face of the head portion 100 b because the head portion 100 b may have the lower width substantially smaller than a width of the receiving groove 217 .
- FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- a lift pin 100 c may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pin 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 except for a head portion 120 c.
- the head portion 120 c of the lift pin 100 c may have a polygonal cross-section, for example, a rectangular cross-section.
- the head portion 120 c may have a lower width substantially wider than an upper width of a passage 216 of a chuck 210 , so that a reaction gas may not flow into the passage 216 and a space 218 of the chuck 210 while forming a layer on an object. That is, the head portion 120 c may sufficiently close the passage 216 to thereby prevent an undesired layer from forming on the passage 216 and the space 218 .
- a receiving groove 217 of the chuck 210 is provided to receive the head portion 120 c of the lift pin 100 c .
- the receiving groove 217 may have a polygonal cross-section such as a rectangular cross-section.
- the head portion 120 c may have a side face separated from an inner face of the receiving groove 217 because the head portion 120 c may have the lower width substantially smaller than a width of the receiving groove 217 .
- the head portion 120 c may make contact with the receiving groove 217 c . That is, a side face of the head portion 120 c may come into contact with an inner face of the receiving groove 217 c .
- the receiving groove 217 c may have a width slightly larger than a lower width of the head portion 120 c , and thus ensure the head portion 120 c to move upward.
- an inflow of the reaction gas into the passage 216 may be more effectively prevented.
- FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- a lift pin 100 d may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pin 100 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 except for a head portion 120 d .
- a chuck 210 includes a receiving groove 217 d adjusted according to a structure of the head portion 120 d.
- the head portion 120 d of the lift pin 100 d may have a funnel-shaped cross-section. Namely, the head portion 120 a may have an upper width substantially larger than a lower width thereof. However, the lower width of the head portion 120 a may be substantially larger than an upper width of a passage 216 of the chuck 210 to sufficiently close the passage 216 .
- the head portion 120 d is received in a receiving groove 217 d of the chuck 210 .
- the receiving groove 217 d may also have an upper width substantially larger than a lower width thereof.
- the receiving groove 217 d may have a funnel-shaped cross-section.
- the head portion 120 d of the lift pin 100 d may make contact with the receiving groove 217 d of the chuck 210 . That is, a side face of the head portion 120 d may contact with an inner face of the receiving groove 217 d .
- the receiving groove 217 d may have an upper width slightly larger than the upper width of the head portion 120 d , and also a lower width of the receiving 217 d may be slightly larger than the lower width of the head portion 120 d .
- the reaction gas may be more effectively prevented from flowing into the passage 216 and a space 218 of the chuck 210 while forming a desired layer on an object.
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- the apparatus such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus is illustrated, the apparatus according to example embodiments of the present invention may correspond to other apparatuses employing the above-described lift pin of the present invention.
- CVD chemical vapor deposition
- an apparatus 200 for processing a substrate includes a chamber 230 , a chuck 210 , a shower head 220 and a lift pin 100 .
- the chamber 230 may have space where the substrate is placed.
- the substrate may include a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon substrate, a germanium substrate, a silicon-germanium substrate, etc.
- An inlet 240 is provided at an upper portion of the chamber 230 .
- a reaction gas for forming a desired layer on the substrate may be introduced into the chamber 230 through the inlet 240 .
- An outlet (not illustrated) is disposed at a lower portion of the chamber 230 . After performing a deposition process for forming the layer on the substrate, reaction by-products and remaining reaction gas may be exhausted from the chamber 230 through the outlet.
- the chuck 210 is installed in the chamber 230 .
- the chuck 210 may include an electrostatic chuck for supporting the substrate using an electrostatic force.
- the chuck 210 includes a plate 212 and a heater 214 positioned beneath the plate 212 .
- the substrate may be placed on the plate 212 and may be heated by the heater 214 up to a predetermined temperature.
- the chuck 210 may further include a power source (not illustrated) electrically connected to the plate 212 .
- the plate 212 While forming the layer on the substrate, the plate 212 may serve as a lower electrode for generating a plasma from the reaction gas in the chamber 230 .
- the chuck 210 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the chuck described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- the chuck 210 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as those of the chucks described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 .
- the lift pin 100 may be inserted into the chuck 210 to move in a passage of the chuck 210 .
- the lift pin 100 may move along an upward direction or a downward direction.
- the lift pin 100 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pin described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .
- the lift pin 100 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pins described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 .
- the shower head 220 is positioned over the chuck 210 in the chamber 230 .
- the shower head 220 may communicate with the inlet 240 to uniformly provide the reaction gas onto the substrate loaded on the chuck 210 .
- the shower head 220 may be electrically connected to a power source (not illustrated) to thereby serve as an upper electrode for generating the plasma from the reaction gas in the chamber 230 while forming the layer on the substrate.
- FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention.
- the method of processing the substrate may be performed using the apparatus for processing the substrate illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- a substrate such as a semiconductor substrate is loaded into the chamber 230 in step S 310 .
- the substrate may be inserted into the chamber 230 using a transfer apparatus, for example, a robot arm.
- step S 320 the lift pin 100 moves upwardly in the passage of the chuck 210 so that the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 makes contact with a bottom of the substrate. That is, the substrate is placed on the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 .
- step S 330 the lift pin 100 moves downwardly in the passage of the chuck 210 such that the substrate is loaded on the chuck 210 .
- the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 is received in the receiving groove of the chuck 210 in step S 340 .
- the passage of the chuck 210 may be closed by the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 .
- step S 350 a reaction gas is introduced into the chamber 230 through the inlet 240 .
- the reaction gas may be uniformly distributed in the chamber 230 through the shower head 220 .
- a voltage is applied to the shower head 220 and the chuck 210 to generate a plasma from the uniformly distributed reaction gas in the chamber 230 in step S 360 .
- the plasma may be provided onto the substrate supported by the chuck 210 so that a desired layer may be formed on the substrate. While forming the layer on the substrate, the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 may close an upper portion of the passage of the chuck 210 . Hence, a remaining reaction gas and reaction by-products in the chamber 230 may not flow into the passage of the chuck 210 .
- reaction by-products and a remaining reaction gas are exhausted from the chamber 230 through the outlet after forming the layer on the substrate.
- the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas may be removed from the chamber 230 using a vacuum pump.
- step S 380 the substrate moves upwardly from the chuck 210 according as the lift pin 100 moves in the upward direction after removing the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas. Since the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas are removed from the chamber 230 through the outlet, the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas may not flow into the passage of the chuck 210 when the head portion 120 of the lift pin 100 opens the passage of the chuck 210 .
- the substrate is unloaded from the chamber 230 in step S 390 .
- the substrate may be removed from the chamber 230 using the transfer apparatus such as the robot arm.
- a lift pin is employed together with a chuck in an apparatus for processing a substrate
- the lift pin may be advantageously used with other devices for supporting objects such as various substrates for liquid crystal display devices.
- a lift pin includes a head portion capable of sufficiently closing a passage of a chuck where the lift pin moves upwardly and downwardly, so that the lift pin may effectively prevent reaction by-products and/or a reaction gas from flowing into a passage of a chuck.
Abstract
Disclosed are a lift pin, an apparatus for processing a substrate and a method of processing a substrate. The lift pin includes a rod portion and a head portion. The rod portion moves in a passage formed through a chuck having a substrate processed using a reaction gas. The head portion is provided on the rod portion to make contact with the substrate. The head portion may close the passage to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 2006-132393 filed on Dec. 22, 2006, the contents of which are herein incorporated by references in their entirety.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a lift pin, an apparatus for processing a substrate and a method of processing a substrate. More particularly, example embodiments of the present invention relate to a lift pin for moving a substrate in a desired direction to place the substrate on a chuck, an apparatus including the lift pin for processing a substrate, and a method of processing the substrate using the apparatus.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Semiconductor devices are usually manufactured through a series of processes such as a deposition process for forming a layer, a photo process, a lithography process, a diffusion process, etc. As for the deposition process for forming a layer on a substrate, there have been developed various processes, for example, a sputtering process, an electroplating process, an evaporation process, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a molecular beam epitaxy process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, etc.
- Since the CVD process provides a layer having excellent characteristics, the CVD process has been widely employed for forming a desired layer on a substrate. The CVD process generally includes a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process, an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) process, a low temperature chemical vapor deposition (LTCVD) process, a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, etc.
- A conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus generally includes a chamber, an electrostatic chuck (ESC), a shower head and a lift pin. A substrate where a layer is formed is loaded in the chamber. The substrate is mounted on the ESC installed in the chamber. The shower head is positioned over the ESC so as to provide a reaction gas onto the substrate. The lift pin is inserted in a passage vertically formed through the ESC to move the substrate along an upward direction or a downward direction. For example, the conventional CVD apparatus having a lift pin is disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-42965.
- The lift pin in the conventional CVD apparatus moves upwardly and downwardly in the passage formed through the ESC so that the lift pin has a diameter smaller than that of the passage. Particularly, since the lift pin of the conventional CVD apparatus has a constant diameter, a gap is generated between the lift pin and an inner face of the passage. Thus, the reaction gas for forming the layer flows into the passage through the gap while forming the layer on the substrate. Additionally, reaction by-products flow into the passage through the gap between the lift pin and the passage. As a result, an undesired layer is formed on the inner face of the passage. The undesired layer formed on the passage may serve as particles that cause various failures of a semiconductor device. Further, the undesired layer is continuously formed on the inner face of the passage such that the diameter of the passage is also continuously reduced, thereby preventing the lift pin from moving upwardly and downwardly.
- Example embodiments of the present invention provide a lift pin capable of preventing an inflow of a reaction gas toward a passage of a chuck.
- Example embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for processing a substrate, which includes a lift pin capable of preventing an inflow of a reaction gas toward a passage of a chuck.
- Example embodiments of the present invention provide a method of processing a substrate using the above apparatus including a lift pin capable of preventing an inflow of a reaction gas toward a passage of a chuck.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lift pin including a rod portion and a head portion. The rod portion may move in a passage formed through a chuck having an object processed using a reaction gas. The head portion may be provided on the rod portion to make contact with the object. The head portion may close the passage to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, the head portion may have a lower portion making contact with an upper face of the passage of the chuck.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, a receiving groove may be provided on the chuck to receive the head portion. Here, the head portion may have a side separated from an inner face of the receiving groove communicating with the passage.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, a receiving groove may be provided on the chuck to receive the head portion. The head portion may have a side making contact with an inner face of the receiving groove communicating with the passage.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, an upper portion of the head portion may be substantially smaller than a lower portion of the head portion. For example, the head portion may have an arch-shaped cross-section, a semicircular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a trapezoid cross-section or a funneled cross-section.
- According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus includes a chamber, a chuck, a shower head and a lift pin. The chamber may receive a substrate therein. The chuck may be disposed in the chamber to support the substrate. The chuck may have a passage formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The shower head may be disposed over the chuck to provide a reaction gas onto the substrate. The lift pin may be disposed in the passage to move the substrate along an upward direction and a downward direction. The lift pin may include a rod portion moving in the passage and a head portion formed on the rod portion to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, an upper portion of the head portion of the lift pin may be substantially smaller than a lower portion of the head portion. The head portion may have an arch-shaped cross-section, a semicircular cross-section, a polygonal cross-section or a funneled cross-section.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, the chuck may have a receiving groove where the head portion is received. The receiving groove may have a depth substantially the same as or larger than a thickness of the head portion. The receiving groove may have an inner face making contact with a side face of the head portion. Alternatively, the receiving groove may have an inner face separated from a side face of the head portion.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, the chuck may include an electrostatic chuck, and the chamber comprises a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber.
- According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing a substrate. In the method of processing the substrate, a substrate may be loaded into a chamber. The substrate may be mounted on a chuck using a lift pin moving in a passage formed through the chuck. The passage of the chuck may be closed by a head portion of the lift pin. The substrate may be processed using a reaction gas in the chamber. Reaction by-products generated in processing the substrate may be removed from the chamber.
- In processing the substrate according to example embodiments of the present invention, the reaction gas may move into the chamber, and then a plasma may be generated from the reaction gas to form a layer on the substrate.
- In example embodiments of the present invention, the substrate may be upwardly moved from the chuck using the lift pin, and then the substrate may be unloaded the substrate from the chamber.
- According to example embodiments of the present invention, a lift pin includes a head portion capable of sufficiently closing a passage of a chuck where the lift pin moves upwardly and downwardly, so that the lift pin may effectively prevent reaction by-products and/or a reaction gas from flowing into a passage of a chuck. As a result, failures of a semiconductor device caused by an undesired layer serving as particles may be efficiently prevented because the lift pin may prevent a formation of the undesired layer on the passage while forming a desired layer on an object such as a substrate. Further, it may take longer for cleaning the chuck because the undesired layer may be prevented from being formed, such that a manufacturing cost for the semiconductor device may be reduced and also a life time of the chuck may be improved.
- The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating “II” portion inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention; and -
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. - The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the present invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.
- It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
- It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
- Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
- The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
- Example embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, example embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
- Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
-
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating “II” portion inFIG. 1 . - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , alift pin 100 includes arod portion 110 and ahead portion 120. In example embodiments, thelift pin 100 may be inserted into achuck 200 on which an object (not illustrated) such as a substrate is placed. - The
rod portion 110 of thelift pin 100 may be inserted into apassage 216 provided through thechuck 210. Thepassage 216 may be formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to thechuck 210 so that therod portion 110 may be disposed with respect to thechuck 210. Therod portion 110 may move in thepassage 216 along an upward direction and a downward direction. Therod portion 110 may have a width substantially smaller than that of thepassage 216. In an example embodiment, therod portion 110 of thelift pin 100 may have a predetermined width. Therod portion 110 may have a cylindrical structure. - The
head portion 120 of thelift pin 100 is provided at one end portion of therod portion 110. Thehead portion 120 may be integrally formed with therod portion 110. Thehead portion 120 may mount the object such as the substrate on thechuck 210, or thehead portion 120 may move the object from thechuck 210 along the upward direction or the downward direction. Since thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100 makes contact with the object, thehead portion 120 may have a desired upper portion to reduce a contact area between thelift pin 100 and the object. When thehead portion 120 has a reduced upper area, defects of the object, for example, a stain or a spot of the object may be effectively prevented from being generated. - In example embodiments of the present invention, the
head portion 120 of thelift pin 100 may have an arch structure or a hemispherical cross-section. Further, thehead portion 120 may have a cross-section such as an arc shape or a semicircular shape. When thehead portion 120 has the arch structure or the hemispherical structure, thehead portion 120 may sufficiently close thepassage 216. Thus, the head portion may have a lower width substantially larger than an upper width of thepassage 216. In example embodiments, thehead portion 120 may seal an upper portion of thepassage 216 while forming a desired layer on the object such as the substrate. Therefore, thehead portion 120 having the above-described structure may efficiently prevent a reaction gas capable of forming the desired layer from flowing into thepassage 216. - In example embodiments of the present invention, a receiving
groove 217 is provided at an upper portion of thechuck 210. Thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100 may be inserted in the receivinggroove 217. The receivinggroove 217 may communicate with thepassage 216. Since the object is mounted on thechuck 210, thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100 may not protrude from an upper face of thechuck 210. Hence, the receivinggroove 217 may have a depth substantially larger than a thickness of thehead portion 120. Alternatively, the depth of the receivinggroove 217 may be substantially the same as the thickness of thehead portion 120. The receivinggroove 217 may have a polygonal cross-section, for example, a rectangular cross-section. Here, thehead portion 120 may be spaced apart from a side face of the receivinggroove 217. That is, the receivinggroove 217 may have a width substantially larger than a lower width of thehead portion 120. - The
chuck 210 provides aspace 218 communicating with a lower portion of thepassage 216. A holder (not illustrated) is positioned in thespace 218 to support a lower portion of thelift pin 100. For example, the holder may support a lower portion of therod portion 110. In a formation of the layer on the object, an undesired layer may be formed on inner faces of thepassage 216 and thespace 218 when the reaction gas flows into thespace 218 through thepassage 216. However, thehead portion 110 may close the upper portion of thepassage 216 to effectively prevent the reaction gas from flowing into thespace 218. Therefore, the undesired layer may not be formed on the inner faces of thepassage 216 and thespace 218 because of sealing of thepassage 216 by thehead portion 110. - In example embodiments of the present invention, the
head portion 110 of thelift pin 100 may close thepassage 216 of thechuck 210 to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into thepassage 216 and thespace 218. Therefore, the undesired layer may not be formed on the inner faces of thepassage 216 and thespace 218 by preventing an inflow of the reaction gas into thespace 218 through thepassage 216. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin according to example embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 3 , alift pin 100 a may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of thelift pin 100 described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 except for ahead portion 120 a. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , thehead portion 120 a of thelift pin 100 a may have a trapezoid cross-section. Thishead portion 120 a may have a lower width to sufficiently cover an upper portion of apassage 216 of achuck 210. Thus, thehead portion 120 a may have a lower portion substantially wider than an upper portion thereof. In other words, the lower width of thehead portion 120 a may be substantially larger than an upper width of thehead portion 120 a. - In example embodiments of the present invention, the
head portion 120 a is received in a receivinggroove 217 of thechuck 210. The head portion 210 a may move upwardly from the receivinggroove 217 while loading an object on thelift pin 100 a. Additionally, thehead portion 120 a may make contact with a bottom of the receivinggroove 217 while mounting the object on thechuck 210. The receivinggroove 217 may have a polygonal cross-section such as a rectangular cross-section. A side face of thehead portion 120 a may be separated from an inner face of the receivinggroove 217 by a predetermined distance. Hence, thehead portion 120 a may have a lower width substantially smaller than a width of the receivinggroove 217. -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 4 , alift pin 100 b may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of thelift pin 100 described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 except for ahead portion 120 b. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , thelift pin 100 b includes thehead portion 120 b having a polygonal cross-section such as a triangular cross-section. Thehead portion 120 b may have a lower width substantially larger than an upper width of apassage 216 of achuck 210 to thereby sufficiently close thepassage 216 while forming a desired layer on an object such as a substrate. - In example embodiments of the present invention, the
head portion 100 b is received in a receivinggroove 217 of thechuck 210. Thehead portion 100 b may make contact with a bottom of the receivinggroove 217 and also may move from the receivinggroove 217. The receivinggroove 217 may have a rectangular cross-section. An inner face of the receivinggroove 217 may be spaced apart from a side face of thehead portion 100 b because thehead portion 100 b may have the lower width substantially smaller than a width of the receivinggroove 217. -
FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. InFIGS. 5 and 6 , alift pin 100 c may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of thelift pin 100 described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 except for ahead portion 120 c. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , thehead portion 120 c of thelift pin 100 c may have a polygonal cross-section, for example, a rectangular cross-section. Thehead portion 120 c may have a lower width substantially wider than an upper width of apassage 216 of achuck 210, so that a reaction gas may not flow into thepassage 216 and aspace 218 of thechuck 210 while forming a layer on an object. That is, thehead portion 120 c may sufficiently close thepassage 216 to thereby prevent an undesired layer from forming on thepassage 216 and thespace 218. - In some example embodiments of the present invention, a receiving
groove 217 of thechuck 210 is provided to receive thehead portion 120 c of thelift pin 100 c. The receivinggroove 217 may have a polygonal cross-section such as a rectangular cross-section. Thehead portion 120 c may have a side face separated from an inner face of the receivinggroove 217 because thehead portion 120 c may have the lower width substantially smaller than a width of the receivinggroove 217. - In other example embodiments of the present invention, the
head portion 120 c may make contact with the receivinggroove 217 c. That is, a side face of thehead portion 120 c may come into contact with an inner face of the receivinggroove 217 c. Here, the receivinggroove 217 c may have a width slightly larger than a lower width of thehead portion 120 c, and thus ensure thehead portion 120 c to move upward. When thehead portion 120 c makes contact with the receivinggroove 217 c, an inflow of the reaction gas into thepassage 216 may be more effectively prevented. -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lift pin in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 7 , alift pin 100 d may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of thelift pin 100 described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 except for ahead portion 120 d. Additionally, achuck 210 includes a receivinggroove 217 d adjusted according to a structure of thehead portion 120 d. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , thehead portion 120 d of thelift pin 100 d may have a funnel-shaped cross-section. Namely, thehead portion 120 a may have an upper width substantially larger than a lower width thereof. However, the lower width of thehead portion 120 a may be substantially larger than an upper width of apassage 216 of thechuck 210 to sufficiently close thepassage 216. - In example embodiments of the present invention, the
head portion 120 d is received in a receivinggroove 217 d of thechuck 210. The receivinggroove 217 d may also have an upper width substantially larger than a lower width thereof. For example, the receivinggroove 217 d may have a funnel-shaped cross-section. Thehead portion 120 d of thelift pin 100 d may make contact with the receivinggroove 217 d of thechuck 210. That is, a side face of thehead portion 120 d may contact with an inner face of the receivinggroove 217 d. The receivinggroove 217 d may have an upper width slightly larger than the upper width of thehead portion 120 d, and also a lower width of the receiving 217 d may be slightly larger than the lower width of thehead portion 120 d. Hence, because the receivinggroove 217 c and thehead portion 120 c are closely adhered to each other, the reaction gas may be more effectively prevented from flowing into thepassage 216 and aspace 218 of thechuck 210 while forming a desired layer on an object. -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an apparatus for processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 8 , although the apparatus such as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus is illustrated, the apparatus according to example embodiments of the present invention may correspond to other apparatuses employing the above-described lift pin of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 8 , anapparatus 200 for processing a substrate includes achamber 230, achuck 210, ashower head 220 and alift pin 100. - The
chamber 230 may have space where the substrate is placed. The substrate may include a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon substrate, a germanium substrate, a silicon-germanium substrate, etc. Aninlet 240 is provided at an upper portion of thechamber 230. A reaction gas for forming a desired layer on the substrate may be introduced into thechamber 230 through theinlet 240. An outlet (not illustrated) is disposed at a lower portion of thechamber 230. After performing a deposition process for forming the layer on the substrate, reaction by-products and remaining reaction gas may be exhausted from thechamber 230 through the outlet. - The
chuck 210 is installed in thechamber 230. Thechuck 210 may include an electrostatic chuck for supporting the substrate using an electrostatic force. Thechuck 210 includes aplate 212 and aheater 214 positioned beneath theplate 212. The substrate may be placed on theplate 212 and may be heated by theheater 214 up to a predetermined temperature. Thechuck 210 may further include a power source (not illustrated) electrically connected to theplate 212. While forming the layer on the substrate, theplate 212 may serve as a lower electrode for generating a plasma from the reaction gas in thechamber 230. Thechuck 210 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the chuck described with reference toFIG. 1 . Alternatively, thechuck 210 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as those of the chucks described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 7 . - The
lift pin 100 may be inserted into thechuck 210 to move in a passage of thechuck 210. For example, thelift pin 100 may move along an upward direction or a downward direction. In some example embodiments, thelift pin 100 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pin described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 . In other example embodiments, thelift pin 100 may have a construction substantially similar to or substantially the same as that of the lift pins described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 7 . - The
shower head 220 is positioned over thechuck 210 in thechamber 230. Theshower head 220 may communicate with theinlet 240 to uniformly provide the reaction gas onto the substrate loaded on thechuck 210. Theshower head 220 may be electrically connected to a power source (not illustrated) to thereby serve as an upper electrode for generating the plasma from the reaction gas in thechamber 230 while forming the layer on the substrate. - Hereinafter, a method of processing substrate using the above-described apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of processing a substrate in accordance with example embodiments of the present invention. InFIG. 9 , the method of processing the substrate may be performed using the apparatus for processing the substrate illustrated inFIG. 8 . - Referring to
FIGS. 8 and 9 , a substrate such as a semiconductor substrate is loaded into thechamber 230 in step S310. The substrate may be inserted into thechamber 230 using a transfer apparatus, for example, a robot arm. - In step S320, the
lift pin 100 moves upwardly in the passage of thechuck 210 so that thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100 makes contact with a bottom of the substrate. That is, the substrate is placed on thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100. - In step S330, the
lift pin 100 moves downwardly in the passage of thechuck 210 such that the substrate is loaded on thechuck 210. - The
head portion 120 of thelift pin 100 is received in the receiving groove of thechuck 210 in step S340. Thus, the passage of thechuck 210 may be closed by thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100. - In step S350, a reaction gas is introduced into the
chamber 230 through theinlet 240. The reaction gas may be uniformly distributed in thechamber 230 through theshower head 220. - A voltage is applied to the
shower head 220 and thechuck 210 to generate a plasma from the uniformly distributed reaction gas in thechamber 230 in step S360. The plasma may be provided onto the substrate supported by thechuck 210 so that a desired layer may be formed on the substrate. While forming the layer on the substrate, thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100 may close an upper portion of the passage of thechuck 210. Hence, a remaining reaction gas and reaction by-products in thechamber 230 may not flow into the passage of thechuck 210. - In step S370, reaction by-products and a remaining reaction gas are exhausted from the
chamber 230 through the outlet after forming the layer on the substrate. The reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas may be removed from thechamber 230 using a vacuum pump. - In step S380, the substrate moves upwardly from the
chuck 210 according as thelift pin 100 moves in the upward direction after removing the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas. Since the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas are removed from thechamber 230 through the outlet, the reaction by-products and the remaining reaction gas may not flow into the passage of thechuck 210 when thehead portion 120 of thelift pin 100 opens the passage of thechuck 210. - The substrate is unloaded from the
chamber 230 in step S390. The substrate may be removed from thechamber 230 using the transfer apparatus such as the robot arm. - According to example embodiments of the present invention, although a lift pin is employed together with a chuck in an apparatus for processing a substrate, the lift pin may be advantageously used with other devices for supporting objects such as various substrates for liquid crystal display devices.
- According to example embodiments of the present invention, a lift pin includes a head portion capable of sufficiently closing a passage of a chuck where the lift pin moves upwardly and downwardly, so that the lift pin may effectively prevent reaction by-products and/or a reaction gas from flowing into a passage of a chuck. As a result, failures of a semiconductor device caused by an undesired layer serving as particles may be efficiently prevented because the lift pin may prevent a formation of the undesired layer on the passage while forming a desired layer on an object such as a substrate. Further, it may take longer for cleaning the chuck because the undesired layer is prevented from being formed, such that a manufacturing cost for the semiconductor device may be reduced and also a life time of the chuck may be improved.
- The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few example embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The present invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.
Claims (18)
1. A lift pin comprising:
a rod portion moving in a passage formed through a chuck having an object processed using a reaction gas; and
a head portion provided on the rod portion to make contact with the object, wherein the head portion closes the passage to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
2. The lift pin of claim 1 , wherein the head portion has a lower portion making contact with an upper face of the passage of the chuck.
3. The lift pin of claim 1 , wherein a receiving groove is provided on the chuck to receive the head portion, and the head portion has a side face separated from an inner face of the receiving groove communicating with the passage.
4. The lift pin of claim 1 , wherein a receiving groove is provided on the chuck to receive the head portion, and the head portion has a side face making contact with an inner face of the receiving groove communicating with the passage.
5. The lift pin of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the head portion is substantially smaller than a lower portion of the head portion.
6. The lift pin of claim 5 , wherein the head portion has an arch-shaped cross-section, a semicircular cross-section, a triangular cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a trapezoid cross-section or a funneled cross-section.
7. An apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising:
a chamber for receiving a substrate;
chuck disposed in the chamber to support the substrate, wherein the chuck has a passage formed along a direction substantially perpendicular to the substrate;
a shower head disposed over the chuck to provide a reaction gas onto the substrate; and
a lift pin disposed in the passage to move the substrate along an upward direction and a downward direction, wherein the lift pin comprises a rod portion moving in the passage and a head portion formed on the rod portion to prevent the reaction gas from flowing into the passage.
8. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 7 , wherein an upper portion of the head portion of the lift pin is substantially smaller than a lower portion of the head portion.
9. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 8 , wherein the head portion has an arch-shaped cross-section, a semicircular cross-section, a polygonal cross-section or a funneled cross-section.
10. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 7 , wherein the chuck has a receiving groove where the head portion is received.
11. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 10 , wherein the receiving groove has a depth substantially the same as or larger than a thickness of the head portion.
12. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 10 , wherein the receiving groove has an inner face making contact with a side face of the head portion.
13. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 10 , wherein the receiving groove has an inner face separated from a side face of the head portion.
14. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 7 , wherein the chuck comprises an electrostatic chuck.
15. The apparatus for processing the substrate of claim 7 , wherein the chamber comprises a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber.
16. A method of processing a substrate, comprising:
loading a substrate into a chamber;
mounting the substrate on a chuck using a lift pin moving in a passage formed through the chuck;
closing the passage by a head portion of the lift pin;
processing the substrate using a reaction gas in the chamber; and
removing reaction by-products generated in processing the substrate from the chamber.
17. The method of processing the substrate of claim 16 , wherein processing the substrate comprises:
introducing the reaction gas into the chamber; and
generating a plasma from the reaction gas to form a layer on the substrate.
18. The method of processing the substrate of claim 16 , further comprising:
upwardly moving the substrate from the chuck using the lift pin; and
unloading the substrate from the chamber.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR10-2006-0132393 | 2006-12-22 | ||
KR1020060132393A KR20080058568A (en) | 2006-12-22 | 2006-12-22 | Lift pin, apparatus for processing a substrate having the lift pin, and method of processing a substrate using the apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080149032A1 true US20080149032A1 (en) | 2008-06-26 |
Family
ID=39541079
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/764,482 Abandoned US20080149032A1 (en) | 2006-12-22 | 2007-06-18 | Lift pin, apparatus for processing a substrate and method of processing a substrate |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080149032A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2008160056A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20080058568A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101205606A (en) |
TW (1) | TW200827481A (en) |
Cited By (8)
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US20130146785A1 (en) * | 2011-12-01 | 2013-06-13 | Asml Netherlands B.V. | Support, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method |
US20140202382A1 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2014-07-24 | Asm Ip Holding B.V. | Deposition apparatus |
US20140265098A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Lift Pin for Substrate Processing |
CN109841544A (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2019-06-04 | Tes股份有限公司 | The moving method and substrate board treatment of ejector pin unit |
US20230002891A1 (en) * | 2017-12-15 | 2023-01-05 | Lam Research Corporation | Ex situ coating of chamber components for semiconductor processing |
US11626314B2 (en) | 2018-09-12 | 2023-04-11 | Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China | Lift pin assembly, an electrostatic chuck and a processing apparatus where the electrostatic chuck is located |
USD1009817S1 (en) * | 2021-09-28 | 2024-01-02 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Shadow ring lift pin |
US11920239B2 (en) | 2015-03-26 | 2024-03-05 | Lam Research Corporation | Minimizing radical recombination using ALD silicon oxide surface coating with intermittent restoration plasma |
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US9011602B2 (en) * | 2009-01-29 | 2015-04-21 | Lam Research Corporation | Pin lifting system |
EP2752870A1 (en) * | 2013-01-04 | 2014-07-09 | Süss Microtec Lithography GmbH | Chuck, in particular for use in a mask aligner |
KR20180001629A (en) * | 2016-06-24 | 2018-01-05 | 세메스 주식회사 | Substrate treating apparatus and substrate treating method |
KR102108296B1 (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2020-05-12 | 세메스 주식회사 | Bake apparatus of substrate |
DE102019007194A1 (en) * | 2019-10-16 | 2021-04-22 | Vat Holding Ag | Adjustment device for the vacuum range with pressure measurement functionality |
CN114141691B (en) * | 2021-12-14 | 2022-06-17 | 北京北方华创微电子装备有限公司 | Semiconductor processing equipment |
-
2006
- 2006-12-22 KR KR1020060132393A patent/KR20080058568A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2007
- 2007-06-18 US US11/764,482 patent/US20080149032A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-06-25 TW TW096122962A patent/TW200827481A/en unknown
- 2007-06-25 JP JP2007166205A patent/JP2008160056A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-07-30 CN CNA200710135863XA patent/CN101205606A/en active Pending
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130146785A1 (en) * | 2011-12-01 | 2013-06-13 | Asml Netherlands B.V. | Support, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method |
US20140202382A1 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2014-07-24 | Asm Ip Holding B.V. | Deposition apparatus |
KR20140094726A (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2014-07-31 | 에이에스엠 아이피 홀딩 비.브이. | Deposition apparatus |
KR102097109B1 (en) * | 2013-01-21 | 2020-04-10 | 에이에스엠 아이피 홀딩 비.브이. | Deposition apparatus |
US20140265098A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Lift Pin for Substrate Processing |
US10195704B2 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2019-02-05 | Infineon Technologies Ag | Lift pin for substrate processing |
US11920239B2 (en) | 2015-03-26 | 2024-03-05 | Lam Research Corporation | Minimizing radical recombination using ALD silicon oxide surface coating with intermittent restoration plasma |
CN109841544A (en) * | 2017-11-29 | 2019-06-04 | Tes股份有限公司 | The moving method and substrate board treatment of ejector pin unit |
US20230002891A1 (en) * | 2017-12-15 | 2023-01-05 | Lam Research Corporation | Ex situ coating of chamber components for semiconductor processing |
US11626314B2 (en) | 2018-09-12 | 2023-04-11 | Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment Inc. China | Lift pin assembly, an electrostatic chuck and a processing apparatus where the electrostatic chuck is located |
USD1009817S1 (en) * | 2021-09-28 | 2024-01-02 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Shadow ring lift pin |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2008160056A (en) | 2008-07-10 |
TW200827481A (en) | 2008-07-01 |
CN101205606A (en) | 2008-06-25 |
KR20080058568A (en) | 2008-06-26 |
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Owner name: SEMES CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:JUNG, SOON-BIN;REEL/FRAME:019453/0052 Effective date: 20070612 |
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